Cathy George steps down as volleyball coach

Dec. 10, 2004

KALAMAZOO--Cathy George, head coach of the Western Michigan
University volleyball team, has announced that she is leaving
WMU after 11 years to become the head volleyball coach at Michigan
State University.

"We are extremely grateful for the contributions Cathy
has made to the Bronco volleyball program," said Athletic
Director Kathy Beauregard. "We realize she has a great opportunity
in front of her and we wish her the best of luck in her future
endeavors."

Hired as the program's sixth head coach in 1993, George has
compiled a 185-139 overall record at WMU and is 110-76 against
Mid-American Conference opponents. She led the Broncos to back-to-back
MAC Tournament title matches in 1999 and 2000, winning the conference
title and automatic berth in the NCAA Tournament in 2000.

George was named MAC Coach of the Year in 2000. During 19
seasons as a head volleyball coach at three universities, she
was named a conference coach of the year six times in three different
conferences.

Twenty-six student-athletes have been named to All-MAC teams
during George's tenure, including seven All-MAC First Team choices.
Since 1994, the WMU volleyball team has had a 100 percent graduation
rate. In 2003-04, the Broncos received the national AVCA Team
Academic Award with a team accumulative GPA of 3.30.

"Western Michigan has meant so much to our family over
the years," said George. "This was a very tough decision
and was not taken lightly. This team is very special and will
be sorely missed."

In 1999, George was named assistant coach for the United States'
entry in the World University Games in Mallorca, Spain.

Before her arrival at WMU, George spent five seasons at the
University of Texas-Arlington. With the Mavericks, she became
the first woman ever to coach in the NCAA Final Four for Division
I volleyball in 1989. She also earned Southland Conference Coach
of the Year three times in the five seasons she spent at UTA.
George led the Mavericks to a No. 7 national ranking in 1988
and No. 3 in 1989.

George began her coaching career in 1987 at North Dakota State.
She was named the 1988 NCAA Division II Coach of the Year and
also received North Central Conference Coach of the Year honors
in 1987 and 1988. She finished her career at NDSU with an 87-11
overall record.